No cracks in rock-solid Angels

If it's not broken, don't fix it. Who could begrudge Anaheim Angels general manager Bill Stoneman a restful winter?

After all, the Angels' ultraimpressive run through the playoffs should not be viewed as the doing of the Rally Monkey or any other Disney-generated pixie dust. Anaheim is as sound as any team around, including the Yankees.

Witness the Angels' 207 run differential in scoring last season. They were fourth in the majors in runs scored while allowing the fewest in the American League. Better yet, they did this without having a single player in his walk year.

Anaheim returns 23 players from the World Series, with reserves Orlando Palmeiro and Alex Ochoa the only castoffs. This lack of activity is striking in the AL West, where every other team has a new manager. Oakland, which as usual has shuffled the deck some, and an aging Seattle team will take swings against Anaheim while Texas remains the most expensive last-place team in history.

While the Yankees have more new faces than usual, the finances and stubbornness of George Steinbrenner give Boston little room for optimism in the East. The Central shapes up as a two-team race between champion Minnesota and the improved White Sox.

Minnesota TwinsLast year: 94-67, 1st; defeated Oakland in first round, lost to Anaheim in ALCS. Manager: Ron Gardenhire. Key additions: None. Key losses: DH David Ortiz, RHP Mike Jackson. Other moves: Added RHP Jose Cabrera, RHP Mike Fetters, SS Chris Gomez; lost RHP Bob Wells. Big question: Can Brad Radke, Eric Milton and Joe Maysthe guts of the starting rotationassert themselves to take the pressure off a bullpen that was the key to the Twins' 29-16 record in one-run games last year? Keep an eye on: RF Michael Cuddyer. The Twins need someone to add pop to a lineup that was ninth in the AL in runs last year. Other possibilities include strikeout-prone slugger Mike Restovich, Bobby Kielty and Matthew LeCroy.

Anaheim AngelsLast year: 99-63, 2nd; won wild card, beat New York in the first round, Minnesota in the ALCS and San Francisco in the World Series. Manager: Mike Scioscia.Key additions: None.Key losses: None.Other moves: Added OF Eric Owens, LHP Rich Rodriguez; lost RHP Al Levine, OF Orlando Palmeiro, OF Alex Ochoa.Big question: There aren't many for a solid team returning intact, but the length of Aaron Sele's recovery from rotator-cuff surgery could open the last spot in the rotation. Candidates include Mickey Callway, Matt Wise and Scott Schoeneweis.Keep an eye on: Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod carries huge expectations but could show the wear and tear of making 66 appearances in his first year as a reliever, including 28 strikeouts in 182/3 innings in the playoffs.